Car-coupling



(No Model.)

OAR GOUPLING.

Patented Feb. 3, 1885.

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CLARENCE S. \VOODMAN, OF \VICHITA, KANSAS.

GAIL-COUPLING.

QEPECIFIQATEON forming part of Letters Patent No.311,798, dated February 3, 1885. Application filed September 10, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE S. W001)- MAN, of Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to car-couplers of that class where the link is elevated to meet the mouth of the draw-head of the car to which the first is to be coupled. Heretofore various devices have been constructed for this purpose, all more or less complicated, for which reason alone they were objectionable. The major part of those particularly designed for freight-cars and for use in connection with the ordinary link and pin have been constructed of levers bent in a variety of shapes, with the ends thereof projecting from the carbody to or beyond the vertical plane of the end of the draw-head. Such devices in a sudden collision of cars are liable to be bent out of shape and position, and in such case will prove inoperative to lift the link.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the existing difficulties incident to this class of couplers, and to attain this object I provide a flexible connection secured to one side of the coupler and connected to a lever on the other side, whereby the link is operated by a positive action, and by reason of the flexibility of the lifting medium no displacement can possibly occur.

My invent-ion consists in the improved construction and arrangement of the parts of the coupler whereby ,I secure the desired effect.

It also consists in certain details of construction, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying this application I have illustrated my coupler as applied to a freight-car of ordinary construction.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of a car with my coupler attached. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a perspective view.

In these drawings the draw-head A is in most respects like other draw-heads as ordinarily used. The single exception lies in forming the upper half of the clrawhead with next car to drop at the proper instant; but

if it is not desired to couple the cars the link is not moved, and at the angle at which it hangs from the drawhead in which it is secured it will pass below the draw-head of the approaching car, and by reason of the cutaway portion or irregular face of the drawhead will be safe from injury by the shock of p the meeting cars. The pins tosecure the links in place may be spring-pins, as shown, or of ordinary construction. Any suitable form of pin may be used for the purpose, and a bandle-lever connected to the pin by a chain may extend to the side of the car, as shown, within reach of the operator.

My improved means for elevating the link and to guide it to the mouth of the draw-head of the opposite car consists of a chain, B,which is secured to the draw-head upon one side by an eyebolt, a projection from the draw-head with an opening therein, or from the projecting end of a plate or strip attached to the drawhead. This chain passes down under the projeeting part of the drawhead and up the other side, where it passes through a guide-opening composed of an eyebolt, a projection from the draw-head, or through an opening in the pr0- jecting end of a plate, as shown. The end which is of a length suiiicient for the purpose intendedis secured to the end of a lever, 0, secured to the end of the car, the said lever projecting beyond the side of the car, and having a suitable handle by which the operator may grasp it. The lever is preferably guided in its up and down movement by an elongated staple, a, as shown.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to couple two cars, the operator simply depresses the handle of lever O, which ele draw-head has meanwhile been lifted, and as the cars come together the link is guided to the mouth of the opposite draw-head, and the moment it enters the pin is allowed to fall, and the cars are then coupled.

It will be observed that various forms of levers may be provided for the purpose of drawing on the chain; and I do not of course limit myself in this particular. The chain may also be secured to the draw-head in any suitable manner; and it is not essential that the guide upon the opposite side of the drawhead be attached thereto, as it may project from the end of the car.

It will be understood that the construction described is applied preferably to each end of the car alike. It is possible, however, to couple a car with my invention to an ordinary link-and-pin car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a car-coupling, and-in combination, a draw-head, a link and pin adapted thereto, anda chain passing under the link, said chain being fixed at one end and secured to a moving lever at the other, whereby by the action of the lever the link is elevated, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, and in combination, a draw-head, a link and .pin adapted thereto, a chain secured to one side of the said drawhead and passing under the link and through a guide on the opposite side of said draw-head, and a hand-lever connected to the end of said chain, all substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupler, the draw-head formed with the upper half overhanging the lower portion, as described, in combination with the link and pin and fleXible means for elevating the link, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GLARENCE S. VOODMAN.

\Vitnesses:

1?. L. MIDDLETON, \VALTER DONALDSON. 

